Anti Muslim Violence Spreads To Oak Kan Township

News is spilling in from across our sources in Burma regarding a new development of violence against Muslims. Following on from yesterday's Rakhine Commission Report, sustained violence has spread to Oak Kan township in Bagu division, two hours North of Rangoon.

Rakhine Commision Report Stirs Violence

Whilst calling for more aid and access, the Rakhine Commision report failed to mention the Rohingya community by name and instead referred to the community as Bengali settlers. This use of language is believed to have sparked the outbreak of violence being witnessed today in Oak Kan township.

Violence broke out across three Muslim villages Chew Bon, Kyauk-Tet and Pea-net-Gone, late this morning with sustained attacks on villagers, shops, and places of worship. As of this afternoon, a number of sources have reported that 2 mosques and 2 Islamic education schools have been destroyed and damaged. In addition, more than 150 shops have been damaged with high value goods being looted. There have, however, been fewer arson attacks reported, by contrast to the execution of prolific violent attacks in Meikhtila and the Arakan state.

A local activist who wished to remain anonymous reported:

'These villages were built by the British before the independence and were populated by Bangladeshis to come and build the main railways and terminals in Rangoon. They have been naturalized as citizens and are simple people who are honest in trade and living. They have only been targeted because of yesterday's report which has suggested that the Rohingya are Bengali too and so the Buddhists attacked our local Burmese citizen Bengalis'

Communications Blockade

As emotions erupted and attacks soon spread across the country, local eye witnesses have reported that the local police stations were surrounded by anti-Muslim mobs whilst destruction took place inside the village. The three villages are now believed to have been encircled by police but crucially at the time of the attack security was not provided to the Muslim population. From Chew Bon, we have received information that some villagers are taking refuge in nearby woodlands and forests. For the past four hours, telephone lines have also been cut off and it seems that a communication blockade has spread over Oak Kan township. Some images have emerged on Facebook and Twitter but these are thought to be from earlier in the day.

The violence erupted following a "body collision between a Monk and a Muslim woman". In anger at being pushed, the woman dislodged the alms bowl the monk was carrying. Following an exchange of harsh words, the woman apologised for hitting the alms bowl as did the monk for pushing the woman. However, other local Buddhists became infuriated which only exacerbated the ethnic tensions. Soon a large number of youths gathered at the local mosque, later finding themselves being attacked, and the mosque soon destroyed.

As the day is coming to an end in the Oak Kan township, there is great concern that more violence will spread across the township which has already seen more than 150 shops damaged and looted and left two mosques destroyed and yet another Muslim community devastated.

About The Author

Founder and Director of international human rights organisation Restless Beings, Mabrur Ahmed is regarded as one of the key Rohingya experts in the EU. He has delivered policy recommendations at the Houses of Parliament as well as spoken at many international universities in short lectures, seminars and conferences.